GENERAL PERMIT 26 – Construction of Wind Turbines Less than 250’ in Height and having a Cumulative Rotor Swept Area no Greater than 20,000 sq. ft.

General Permit 26 authorizes construction of wind turbines less than 250’ in height, measured from the ground surface to the tip of the blade at its highest position, and having a cumulative rotor swept area no greater than 20,000 sq. ft., provided:

No portion of the wind turbine(s), including blades, tower and site disturbance, is located in, on or over dunes, beaches, wetlands, coastal bluffs, or wild and scenic river corridors;

No wind turbine tower(s) or site disturbance is located in floodways;

The wind turbine(s), including blades, tower and site disturbance, is set back a minimum of 50’ landward of the mean high water line and the inland limit of any beach or dune and from the boundary of any wetlands;

No portion of the wind turbine(s), including blades, tower, and site disturbance is located within an area mapped as threatened or endangered species habitat on the Department's Landscape Maps of Habitat for Endangered, Threatened and Other Priority Wildlife, an area identified on the Department’s Large Scale Wind Turbine Siting Map, dated August 8, 2009 or within one-quarter mile of an area identified on the Department's Large Scale Wind Turbine Siting Map; and

The wind turbine(s) complies with Critical wildlife habitats.

Please be advised:

Development under this General Permit shall not result in construction of turbines with a cumulative rotor swept area greater than 20,000 square feet on a site, either solely or in conjunction with a previous wind turbine development.

If the wind turbine is more than 120’ tall, the tower must be a free standing monopole.

Lighting required by the Federal Aviation Administration is allowed on the wind turbine, as is ground level security lighting. No other lighting is allowed.

Post-construction monitoring may be required in certain cases.

Timing restrictions and limitations on operation of the wind turbines may apply.